Deployments

2010 Deployment months are May, August, November.

2010

America Samoa

A team of 5 members were deployed to America Samoa to provide vaccinations to hundreds of people.

2008

Hurricane Gustav

Multiple team members were deployed to form a strike team (also included other teams medical personnel).  Additional WA-1 team members assisted with a number of other teams.

2007  

Wildfires of San Diego County, CA

The team provided medical care at many shelters in San Diego County.  The majority of the 12 day deployment was spent at the Pechange Indian Reservation in Temecula assisting the local medical staff.

Hurricane Dean

2005

Hurricane Katrina #1, New Orleans, LA

The team was deployed to the final location of the New Orleans Louisiana Airport to provide medical assistance to evacuees.  It is here where the team worked throughout many days in one of the most austere environments and heavy patient count.  The team worked out of the DMAT tents in the airport initially throughout the days and nights then eventually graveyard with the OR-2 DMAT.

Hurricane Katrina #2, New Orleans, LA

Shortly after the return of the first team, a supplemental smaller team was deployed back to New Orleans, LA to provide medical assistance for additional flood victims.

2004 Hurricane Ivan

2002

East Coast Avian Influenza

Team was deployed for 22 days to assist the USDA and VMAT teams from across the U.S. in an attempt to control an outbreak of Avian Influenza. During this deployment the team assisted in taking biologic samples from local avian species.

Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City, UT

A strike team of 5 people were deployed to the Winter Olympics for counter-terrorism standby.

2001 World Trade Center 9/11, New York, NY

WA-1 along with members from OR-2 DMAT responded to the World Trade Center Disaster six weeks after the attack. Members staffed two treatment areas at Ground Zero for a period of two weeks providing medical care for injured rescue and construction workers.

2000 Floods of Houston, TX

Two RN's responded to torrential rains caused by Hurricane Allison and subsequent massive flooding paralyzing the Houston area. The members were deployed for one week to augment hospital staff that were displaced by the flooding.

1999

Kosovo Refugees, Fort Dix, NJ

Two RN's responded to an NDMS request for help in processing Kosovo refugees. Thousands of Kosovo refugees came into and were processed at Fort Dix. Assisted by translators, the nurses, physicians, and medics that were in the clinic were enlightened by the perseverance and hardy attitude of the Kosovo people, often with heartbreaking stories of terror and torture from the Serbs. The operation spanned approximately one month, with the Kosovans eventually being distributed around the U.S. for short term care. They could eventually opt to apply for immigration or return to their homeland once it was safe.

WTO Conference, Seattle, WA

The team deployed on a seven day training exercise during the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. Members of WA-1, as well as members of CA-1, CA-4, CA-6 met for the purpose of further developing coordination between DMAT's and an NMRT following a weapons of mass destruction - chemical or biological release. Numerous training sessions were conducted during the week on medical and logistical topics. A mock decon and treatment area was set up to display NDMS capabilities to local emergency responders.

1997 Floods of Grand Forks, ND

This was the first time WA-1 was deployed to a flood disaster. As part of the Federal Response Plan, the team integrated its activities with the local Military Medical Command and United Hospital. The Team's primary responsibility was to provide medical care to the 5000 displaced people housed in a hanger called "Three Bays". In addition, the Team staffed the night shift in the Air Base's Emergency Department.

1996 Olympic Games, Atlanta, GA

This was the first time DMAT personnel were utilized for counter terrorism medical stand-by. Multiple 5 person "Strike Teams" were pre-staged throughout the Olympic Games at Dobbins Air Force Base as a part of a contingency response to Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Team received specialized military training in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical agents.

1994 Northridge Earthquake, Los Angeles, CA

As part of the Federal Response Plan, the Team was deployed to Santa Clarita and set up a Field Medical Unit adjacent to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and Santa Clarita Emergency Operations Center. The Field Medical Unit primarily served a poor, non-English speaking population. Medical Outreach Team's visited local shelters.

1992 Hurricane Iniki, Kauai, HI

Hurricane Iniki marked the Team's first deployment under the auspices of the Federal Response Plan. This was the Team's first deployment to a hurricane ravaged area. The Team was based in Hanalei and set up a Field Medical Unit at a Mormon Church facility. In addition, we set up "Satellite Treatment Stations" in rural areas without medical access. Team members also flew by military helicopter to assist with a public health survey and initiated outreach treatment to patients in the area.

1990 Earthquake of Luzan Island, Philippines

Through the Philippine Consulate in Seattle, the Team was requested to provide assistance. The Team was assigned to assist in a remote mountainous area in the Province of Nueva Edja. This rural population was isolated by mud slides along a major route linking the Island from North to South called the "Friendship Highway". The Team Structural Engineer assisted members in surveying roads and bridges for structural safety. A 22 member "Special Forces" unit was attached to the team for "security" because of the threat of guerrilla rebels in the area. The Team operated a Field Medical Unit in the center of a barrio called Capintalan in the town of Carranglian, treating a total of 229 people. Team members assisted with search & rescue and evacuated patients to San Jose. At the conclusion of the deployment, the Team was honored at a Presidential Reception with Corazon Aquino.

1988 Earthquake of Lenninakan, Armenia

In the city of Lenninakan (population 207,000; 11,490 sq. miles) which 80% was destroyed, operated a Field Medical Unit, assisted with search and rescue of damaged buildings, triaged disaster sites and provided medical services at various locations around the city. Physician staff also assisted in a local hospital in Yerevan, the capital city.

1986 Earthquake of El Salvador

Worked out of two open sided military medium tents, operating a Field Medical Unit in a barrio called "El Paraiso". Assisted in construction of a temporary emergency department to replace the damaged Benjamin Bloom Children's Hospital. 1985 Mexico City, Mexico: Earthquake. Established one of the first "Open Door Clinics" in one of the poorest "Barrios" in Mexico City. Provided Field Search and Rescue Night Operations at the "pancaked" 13 story high-rise apartment building "Nuevo Leon". In addition, our paramedics assisted staffing local ambulances.